Churches stand firm in their faith

Most churches in Destin have been ministering to the community for more than 25 years.

Village Baptist Church was one of the many churches in Destin in 1984, with a membership of about 300.

When Dr. Steven A. Davies arrived in 1992 to be senior pastor at Village Baptist Church, there were just two buildings — a worship center that seated about 300 and a fellowship hall with some classrooms.

“The congregation on Sundays could be anywhere from 80 to 125 people,” Davies told The Log.

“Today with our new facilities, our worship center will seat 1,439 people and attendance can range from 850 to 1,450 for Sunday worship services,” he added. Easter and Christmas services can find between 2,000-3,000 in attendance.

Another church here in 1984 was Grace Lutheran Church. The Rev. Paul Kummer, who became pastor in 1989, told The Log, “We are blessed to be part of this community with churches that love to work together and serve the same people in the name of the same Lord.”

The church began in Dr. Mike Raim’s office and moved to many different locations, including the revolving Holiday Inn for a little while.

“Then we were planted at the old Shores Shopping Center in the far right corner,” Kummer said. “We built on Two Trees Road in 1992, then relocated to Commons Drive in 2005.”

Grace has grown from a worshiping attendance of 35 in the storefront to around 350 each weekend now.

“We have grown from being a subsidized mission of the Missouri Synod to attempting to reach out and help others,” Kummer said. “It’s not about us nor our buildings, but it’s about Jesus; it’s about those who don’t know and trust Him yet; and it’s about doing something now to connect those two.”

Kummer thinks many of the people in Destin, in general, have become more materialistic over the past 20 years and less interested in spiritual things.

“Yet, there are individual and family stories that belie that,” he said. “God’s still on the move and He won’t give up. We just need to admit we are nothing without him. Then we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.”

Faith Assembly Christian Church is another of Destin’s churches that has been around for 25 years or more. Its size has increased 400 percent during that time.

The church is known for its outreach programs, including fulfilling the wishes of 75 children at Christmas through the Walton County Sheriff’s Department and Grace Village, a vision of Pastor and Mrs. Toy Arnett, to provide help for single mothers.

“They have a home provided for them until their last child graduates from high school,” Arnett told The Log. “There is no charge for housing. We have built four two-story homes so far and hope to build more as time progresses.”

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The first two churches built in Destin began in the late 1920s — St. Andrew’s By-the-Sea and First Presbyterian Church.

A retired English lay missionary named Clement Taylor is considered father to the congregation at St. Andrew’s, which sits on land donated by Greek shipbuilder John G. Maltezo.

A longtime landmark for area fishermen, the steeple of St. Andrew’s was once the highest fixture along the harbor.

The pastor of the church in 1984 was the Rev. Sandy Greene, who served from 1976-1991.

St. Andrew’s grew into a vibrant church that was envisioned by early fishing families and parishioners such as Clement Taylor and Isabelle Maltezo.

First Presbyterian Church in Destin had its beginning in 1928 in the living room of William and Camilla Marler.
William, known as “Uncle Billy,” was a civic leader, respected fisherman and boat builder in Destin who felt the need to gather family and others of the community on Sundays for worship.

As the numbers increased, the services were moved to the Community Center/Schoolhouse on Calhoun Avenue. When a fire eventually destroyed the building, the Marlers once again opened their home.

A board appointed to organize a church in Destin met March 10, 1939, and the original group of worshippers became part of the Presbyterian Church U.S., which is now known as the Presbyterian Church (USA). There were 24 members.

Membership grew to 214 in 1984 and the congregation of 153 will celebrate its 70th anniversary this year.